siRNA MICROBICIDES FOR PREVENTING AND TREATING DISEASES

Abstract

The invention provides a microbicidal composition comprising at least one siRNA. The siRNA is an RNA duplex made of one or two molecules. A portion of the siRNA is identical to a target sequence in an essential gene of a virus. The virus may be a herpesvirus, for example, HSV-1 or HSV-2. Preferably, the herpesvirus is HSV-2. The microbicidal composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Also included in the invention are methods to prevent and treat viral infections by administration of the microbicidal composition. Preferably, the microbicidal composition is administered transmucosally.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE[0001]This application is an International Application, which claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 687,216, filed on Jun. 3, 2005, the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and benefit priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e).GOVERNMENT SUPPORT[0002]This invention was supported, in part, by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant No. R21 AI058695 and R01 AI057552. The government of the United States has certain rights to the invention.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Two well known species of human disease-causing herpes simplex viruses are herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and its close cousin, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), collectively HSV. At the molecular level, HSV-1 and HSV-2 share approximately 50% of their DNA. Both types infect the body's mucosal surfaces, usually the mouth or genitals, and then establish latency in the nervous system. For both HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections, at lea...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In one embodiment, the siRNA is formulated with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to form a microbicidal composition that can treat or prevent viral infection by a virus noted above. Preferably, the viral infection is an STD. Preferably, the viral infection is mediated by HIV, HPV, or HSV. More preferably, the viral infection is mediated by HSV. Preferably, the microbicide is formulated for topical, particularly genital or rectal, administration. More preferably, the microbicide is formulated for delivery of the siRNA by lipofection.

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, prior infection with another STD, such as HSV 2, predisposes an individual to a higher risk of contracting HIV.

Therefore, decrease in HSV 2 infection could lead to a significant drop in HIV infection rates.

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